ALBANY — A Troy man has been hit with multiple indictments for allegedly posing as a licensed architect in order to secure work on a half-dozen building projects around the Capital Region.

Three unsealed indictments — one apiece for work in Albany, Saratoga and Rensselaer counties — charge Paul J. Newman of Cohesion Studios Inc. with defrauding construction companies, business owners and local governments.

The charges were announced Thursday by the office of state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman almost a year after the matter was referred by the state Education Department's Office of the Professions.

The investigation was dubbed "Operation Vandelay Industries," a reference to the sitcom "Seinfeld," in which the luckless character George Costanza invented the fake company — ostensibly owned by "Art Vandelay" — to bolster his meager resume. (Costanza dreamed of being an architect.)

The attorney general's office said the investigation concluded that Newman allegedly drafted architectural renderings for more than 100 properties in the three counties, including multiple large housing projects.

Newman also allegedly submitted foundation inspections, field reports, energy compliance certificates and engineer letters to various towns and cities falsely certifying he was a properly licensed architect, Schneiderman's office said.

The documents also bore what investigators concluded was a forged state Registered Architect stamp or Professional Engineer stamp that Newman allegedly crafted from registration numbers and signatures borrowed from an actual architect and engineer.

Cohesion was contracted to create architectural renderings and provide additional services for the following projects, according to the attorney general's office:

The Pastures, North Greenbush: Between 2010 and 2015, Newman was hired as the architect for the development of more than 70 townhouses;

581 Livingston Ave., Albany: Between 2012 and 2014, Newman worked on a multistory senior living community;

The Lofts at Saratoga Boulevard, Malta: Between 2014 and 2016, he served as project architect for this 214-unit multifamily apartment community;

The Vistas of Clifton Park: Between 2011 and 2014, Newman was hired as the architect for the development of more than 25 townhouses;

Hannoush Jewelers, Colonie: Between 2011 and 2012, Newman was hired as the architect on a renovation project for the Wolf Road jewelry store;

Peak Point Apartments, Ballston Spa: Between 2012 and 2013, Newman was hired as the architect for the development of a multistory senior living community.

The six projects paid him in excess of $188,000, according to Schneiderman's office.

Newman, who faces a total of 58 counts including felony charges in each county, was arraigned Monday in Saratoga and Rensselaer counties, and Wednesday in Albany County.

In a statement, Schneiderman said Newman spent the past seven years "deceiving hundreds of New Yorkers – including families and senior citizens — with the sole goal of enriching himself. ... (T)he defendant jeopardized the safety of those who resided in and frequented the buildings he was contracted to work on."

He allegedly advertised those services until he became aware that a 2015 complaint had been filed with the state Education Department's Office of the Professions. He subsequently dropped reference to "architecture" in his ads, replacing it with "design." The Education Department investigated and referred the matter to the attorney general's office the following year.

Records show that Newman was assessed a $4,500 fine by the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design for doing work on a church project without the proper licensing.

Newman is the sole employee of Cohesion Studios, according to prosecutors. He did not respond to an email. An assistant to his lawyer, Steve Coffey of O'Connell & Aronowitz, declined to comment.

Kathleen Angiolini, who worked with Newman on the Vistas, said she was "shocked" by the news, and praised his skills.

"I'm so depressed — it's sad," Angiolini said.

Newman apparently has done work in a number of other states and places, including Puerto Rico and Brazil, according to Schneiderman's office.

If convicted of the highest charge, he faces up to 15 years in prison.